A Paris court on Friday delivered verdicts in the 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian at her residence in the French capital, finding the ringleader and seven other defendants guilty. However, none of the convicted individuals will serve prison sentences.
The court acquitted two of the ten defendants involved in the case. The sentences announced by the court president included a range of outcomes from suspended prison terms to monetary fines.
Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, identified as the ringleader of the operation, received the most substantial sentence: an eight-year imprisonment, with five of those years suspended. Three other individuals facing the most severe charges were each sentenced to seven years, with five years also suspended.
Due to time already served in pretrial detention, none of the individuals found guilty will be incarcerated. The trial was overseen by a panel of three judges and six jurors.
Presiding judge David De Pas stated that the ages of the defendants – the oldest of whom is 79, with several others in their 60s and 70s – significantly influenced the court’s decision against imposing stricter sentences that would have resulted in immediate imprisonment. He also noted that the nine-year period between the robbery and the trial was a factor in the sentencing. “You caused harm,” Judge De Pas stated. “You caused fear.”
Kim Kardashian, who did not attend the verdict announcement, released a statement following the ruling. “I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case,” she said. “The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.”
Khedache arrived at court using a walking stick, concealing his face from cameras. His DNA, discovered on the zip ties used to restrain Kardashian, played a crucial role in advancing the investigation. Wiretap evidence reportedly captured him issuing instructions, recruiting accomplices, and arranging the sale of the stolen diamonds in Belgium. A diamond-encrusted cross, dropped by the perpetrators during their escape, was the only piece of jewelry recovered.
The robbery occurred on the night of October 2, 2016, during Paris Fashion Week. The robbers, disguised as police officers, forced their way into the Hôtel de Pourtalès, bound Kardashian with zip ties, and absconded with her jewelry, an incident that prompted celebrities to reassess their security measures and public lifestyles.
The accused became known in France as “les papys braqueurs,” or the grandpa robbers, due to their advanced age. Some defendants arrived at court wearing orthopedic shoes, and one relied on a cane for support. However, prosecutors cautioned against underestimating them. The defendants faced charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and criminal association.
During the trial, Khedache claimed he was merely a low-level participant and attributed the planning of the robbery to a mysterious individual known only as “X” or “Ben,” whom prosecutors contend never existed. His lawyer appealed for leniency, referencing Kardashian’s earlier emotional courtroom encounter with Khedache. Although she was not present for the verdict, her previous testimony and expression of forgiveness resonated. “She looked at him when she came, she listened to the letter he had written to her, and then she forgave him,” lawyer Franck Berton told The Associated Press.
Kardashian, typically surrounded by security, made direct eye contact with Khedache as his letter was read aloud in court. “I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you,” she stated. “But it doesn’t change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed.” A high-profile crime took on a deeply personal dimension during this exchange.
On Friday, Khedache asked for “a thousand pardons” through a written note submitted to the court. Several other defendants also expressed remorse during their final statements.
Earlier in the month, Kardashian’s testimony provided an emotional focal point of the trial. She recounted in a crowded courtroom how she was thrown onto a bed, bound with zip ties, and had a gun held to her head on the night of the robbery. “I absolutely did think I was going to die,” she testified. “I have babies. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.” She described being dragged into a marble bathroom and instructed to remain silent. After the robbers fled, she freed herself by rubbing the tape on her wrists against the sink before hiding with a friend, visibly shaken and barefoot.
Kardashian revealed that Paris had once been a cherished sanctuary for her, a city where she felt comfortable walking alone late at night. However, the robbery shattered this sense of security. The incident had far-reaching consequences, prompting a re-evaluation of celebrity behavior in the age of social media. Kardashian, who had meticulously shared details of her life online, including her location, recognized that this public profile likely made her a target. Following the robbery, she ceased posting her location in real time, removed displays of lavish gifts from her social media, and avoided Paris for several years. Other celebrities reportedly followed suit, marking a shift towards greater privacy as a valued commodity.
The case progressed through the French legal system over several years before reaching trial.
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